Collapsible tube



sept. 3, 1929.

H. C. MASON oo LLAFs l1131.2: TUBE Filed Oct. '7, 1926 latented Slept. 3, 1929*.

" UNITED STATES PATENroFFIcE.

' HUBERT CHASE4 MASON, 0F EAST CROYDON, .,ENGLAND, ASSIGNR T0 ANGLO-,AMERI- CAN;PHARMACEUTICAL CQMPANY LIMITED, OF CBOYDON, ENGLAND, A BRITISH country. l

oorinarensmi TUBE.

Application ill-ed October 17', .1 926, Serial No. 140,104, and in Great Britain October 19, 1925.

This invention rela-tes to collapsible tubes-'- more particularly to collapsible tubes for the purpose `of containing toilet pastes, creams and ointments, polishing creams etc. object of this invention is to construct the tube so that it opens automatically when pressure isapplied to the tube to extrude the contents and closes automatically when such :pressure is released. Thus, immediately the tube closes the contents thereof become sealed and, therefore, are not exposed 'to cont-amination by micro-organisms in the atmosphere, as is the case with tubes provided with the l usual'removable cap, this being a point of primary importance where hygienic conditions are to be observed as, for example, in preparations for human use, and also where the contents are ofa volatile or of a hygroscopc nature.

According to the preferred manner of carrying out this invention, the mouth or exit The-- orifice of the tube is arranged at the side of- Figure 1 is an elevation of the top part of a tube according to this invention, 0

Figures 2 and 3 are elevations partly 1n section, showing the valve in the closed and open A positionsrespectively, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the valve. Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View throuvh the wall of the exit end of the tube and of of the valve, showing a pin removably inserted through said wall and engaging the a portion of the valve, longitudinally outer end of the valve to secure the valve in l closed position.

. Referring to the drawings, the exit end a 0f the tube a1 insteadof being closed at its outer end by a screwA cap as is the usual practice, is blanked olf as at a2. The exit end accommodates the valvein the form of a piston b which fits closely but slidingly withln the exit end a. Between the valvegb and the' outer end 'a2 the exit endv of the tube. a1 is arrange a spring c or other resilient device which normally presses the valve b down ,upon a suitable stop or abutment, which lajtter may be in the form of an inner peripheral flange a3 situated at the lower end ofthe exit end a of the tube. formed by iaring over the metal at the lower Such flange@3 may bel ortion of the exit end or it maybe formed j y a slight contractionof the lower portion of the exit end ofthe tube, which contraction may be obtained by indenting the'neck of the tube at this point.

The valve b may becup-shaped to receive the lower end of the spring c, the upper end of thelatter bearing against the outer'closed end' a2 of the exit end of 'the tube.

The` orifice d through which the material e in the tube is extracted, is situated near the lower end of the Walls of the exit end aso that it is closedby th, valve b when the latter rests upon its seating asf (see Figure 2) Upon spressure being applied to the walls of the tube al, however, the valve b is forced upwardly agalnst .the pressure of the spring a, and opens the exit orifice d, thereby permitting extrusion of the contents e, see Figure' 3.

Upon release of the presstire the valve b-immedlately'returns and seals the exit orifice d.'

As the valve lits closely within the exit end a of t-he tubevthe contents are unable to pass around its walls to its up er side, and, consequently, the action of t e spring .c is not `interfered with and the valve b always Works smoothly. Also, the contents ofthe tube do not come'into contact with the spring and are therefore not contaminated thereby.

The walls of the exit end a of the tube, together with its closedv outer end, may be formedintegrallywith the body of the tube a1, or they may be constructed .separatel and subsequently secured to the body. 15171 some cases, the said outer end a2 maybe ap-lv plied separately. Also, inl some cases, the seating as for the valve b may be formed by means of a ring sprung tightly inside the exit of the tube.

Although it is preferablelfor the top az of the tubel to be completely closed, it is 'not necessarily so constructed. Also, although the valve is preferably close fitting it-need not in all cases lbe so. i

The edges of the said exitforice d are conven/iently thinned down to a sharp edge as at d1 so that the action of passing a brush across the orifice leaves the latter quite clean.

tube may be sunk that, as it is capless 1t is very convenient to use, and time is saved because there is no cap i. ifice ,d being o through a hole in the to be screwed oi and on every time the tube is used. p

I provide means for preventing the exit orened due to accidental pressure on the tu e. Such means is shown as consisting of a pin f removably inserted exit end a of the tube on the opposite side of the exit oriice d from the tube and engaging the outer end of the piston so as to prevent lifting of the valve.

Again, in some casesthe valve may take the form of a sleeve or cap arranged externally of the exit end of the .tube and so that upon presl sure beingja plied to the tubethe valve 'moves to permit o extrusion of the contents, means being provided to return the "valve to the closed position when the pressure is released.

Such means may comprise a spring arranged :between the sleeve or cap or an 'abutment thereon connected to or bearing upon the tube or an abutment thereon. A I claim l 1. A collapsible tube having a closed exit end with a side exit orifice, said exit end bein provided with an inwardly projecting shou der at its inner end, a piston closely fitting in and longitudinally movable of the said exit end of the tube between the said inwardly projecting shoulder and said closed end-to cover and uncover said enit orifice, resilient means normally holding said piston against said shoulder and in position to cover said exit oriice, said valve being movable in opposition to said resilient means to uncover said exit orifice and permit extrusion of the contents of the tube when pressure 1s applied to the tube, and means insertible through the wall of the exit end of the tube and engaging said piston to holdl said piston against sald shoulder. Y

' 2. A collapsible tube having a closed exit end with a side exit orifice, said exit end being provided with an inwardly projecting shoulder at its inner end, a valve in the said exit end of the tube between the said inwardly projecting shoulder and said closed end and having means to cover said eXit orifice, resilient means normally holding said valve against said shoulder with said means covering said exit orilice, said valve being movable in opposition to said resilient means to uncover said exit orifice and permit extrusion of the contents of the tube when pressure is applied to the tube, said resilient means serving upon release of the pressure to move the valve toward and hold it against the said inwardly projecting shoulder, and a removable pin carried by the exit end of the tube and engaging and holding the valve in closed posi-v tion and against accidentaldisplacement due to the compressing of the tube.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciication.

' H. CHASE MASON. 

